5 songs you must hear this week: July 16, 2018

1. Tokyo Police Club, “Hercules”

TPC (Dine Alone)

Recommended If You Like: Sharp, spikey, alt-pop

It’s been four years since the last proper Tokyo Police Club album. Much of this record was apparently recorded in an old church in rural Ontario, which sounds interesting. A showcase this past Saturday offered a preview of the album (their fourth, by the way) that’s due October 5. They’ve already announced a major North American tour for October 16-November 17.

2. Metric, “Dark Saturday”

Single (Independent)

RIYL: Well, it’s Metric, innit?

We had a feeling that new Metric was coming given that they snuck a couple of unfamiliar tracks—including this one—into their set at Field Trip back in June. I think it’s safe to say that this will be part of their seventh album (title TBA), which will be their first full release in three years. Watch for dates with the Smashing Pumpkins.

3a. Twenty One Pilots, “Jumpsuit”

Trench (Fuelled by Ramen/Warner)

RIYL: Blurryface

After much hype and many hints, “Jumpsuit” is one of two singles (the other being “Nico and the Niners”) that Twenty One Pilots dropped in the middle of last week Tyler Joseph sounds like he’s having some issues, too. He sings “I can’t believe how much I hate/ Pressures of a new place roll my way/Jumpsuit, jumpsuit, cover me.” The whole album will be out October 5 followed by a world tour which begins October 16.

3b. Twenty One Pilots, “Nico and the Niners”

4. JEEN, “Any Moment”

Gift Shop (Red Brick Songs)

RIYL: Danceable alt-pop songs

You may not know the name, but JEEN has had her self-produced songs used in commercial for everyone from Panasonic and Kraft to KIA and Molson. A bunch of songs have also turne dup in TV shows like Hockey Wives, Cook Off and Ruby Gloom. Then there are the songs she’s co-written with Great Big Sea, Serena Ryder and a J-Pop band (!!!) called FUWA FUWA. Oh, and she’s also in a band called Cookie Duster with Brendan Canning of Broken Social Scene.

5. Shade, “Controller”

Single (Sleepless Records)

RIYL: Psych-y, grunge-y post-punk

With a new record deal (the same label that’s home to July Talk), Hamilton’s Shade is teasing an album with this single from a still-to-titled album. It’ll be interesting to see what they come up with as they work with producers Leon Taheny (Arcade Fire, Death from Above, METZ) and Josh Korody (Weaves).